Morgan County teens learn from mock crash

Emergency responders participate in program

ByDAN BARKER Times News Editor

Posted:
04/04/2013 10:07:08 AM MDT

Updated:
04/04/2013 04:26:20 PM MDT

Travis Freeman is selected for death by the Grim Reaper at Fort Morgan High School Tuesday. He was to be part of the "Every 15 Minutes" program, and he was taken away to stay in a hotel overnight. His fellow students would next see him as part of a mock accident.
(Dan Barker/Fort Morgan Times)

Someone dies in an alcohol-related accident every 15 minutes, which is why students from every public high school in Morgan County were brought together Wednesday morning.

They were confronted with two mashed cars, with teenagers from their own schools laying on the ground, draped across a car or stuck in a car in a mock crash at the I-76 Speedway.

A recording of a mock dispatch call rang through the stands, as a driver reported two cars driving in an erratic manner, and the caller became hysterical as she reported she saw them crash somewhere between Fort Morgan and Brush.

Almost immediately, law enforcement vehicles began racing into the track with lights and sirens running, and fire trucks and ambulances not far behind.

Emergency responders extract one of the students playing an accident victims during the "Every 15 Seconds" program held at 1-76 Speedway Wednesday morning.
(Dan Barker/Fort Morgan Times)

The point of all this was to give teens a sense of what an accident is really like, and the consequences of reckless driving, driving while drunk or drugged and using a cell phone while driving, said Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone, who was organizing the effort.

The scenario was meant to show what can happen in a real accident, with passengers ejected from the car, a car rolled on its top and how emergency responders extricate the injured and dead.

One teen played by Shannadon Fearnot was declared dead at the scene, others were trapped or injured.

They were "treated," and taken out by ambulance, helicopter or hearse.

An announcement a few minutes later told the students in the stands that one of the kids died on the way to the hospital.

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One "driver" performed roadside tests, was handcuffed by an officer and taken away.

Announcer Mike Boehm told the audience that all of this could happen in "five seconds of stupidity. Teens might think they can handle alcohol or drugs, but just a little alcohol can cause all this kind of trouble."

He also warned that cell phone use, whether from calling or texting, is a rising cause of car crash fatalities. In fact, it is second only to alcohol use and not far behind.

An injured student is taken to the Medivac helicopter as part of the simulation of a crash victims during the "Every 15 Seconds" program held at 1-76 Speedway Wednesday morning.
(Dan Barker/Fort Morgan Times)

Boehm also cautioned the students that a vehicle can roll over only once and someone can be killed.

"Wear your seat belts," he emphasized.

Beyond their own deaths or injuries, the coroner or officers might have to call their parents with the bad news, Boehm said.

Or they might have to make a call: "Mom, Dad, I need you to come to the jail. I'm in trouble," they might have to say.

A driver responsible for an accident that led to a death would likely spend some time in jail, and if convicted could find it hard to get decent jobs, scholarships or join the military, he said.

"It will destroy your life," Boehm said.

Further, parents could be hit with big expenses for legal costs, and might have to pay for damages or injuries to other kids.

They might have to sell all they own, since it could cost up to $1 million in damages, he said.

Boehm said he wanted all the teens to think about what they are doing, pointing out that they are not immortal.

The program did not end there. Students were taken to see how parents at a mortuary identified a body, and to see what is needed to take care of injured people at the hospital.

Later, at least some of students saw a PowerPoint with photos from the activities at assemblies.

Linda Midcap - who lost two children in accidents - spoke at Fort Morgan High School.

Counselors at FMHS and from Centennial Mental Health Center were on hand in case the subject was too much for some students, and students who had recent losses were kept out of the program, said FMHS School Resource Officer Tim Malone.

The Grim Reaper watches as the body of Shannadon Fearnot, a Fort Morgan High School student, is put in a hearse during the "Every 15 Seconds" program held at 1-76 Speedway Wednesday morning. The object was to let watching high school kids see what can happen with reckless driving combined with alcohol and drugs or cell phone use.
(Dan Barker/Fort Morgan Times)

He said the idea was not to traumatize students, but to send them a clear message.

Even before Wednesday teens were already primed for the message.

A faculty member at FMHS dressed as the Grim Reaper - complete with sickle -- came into classrooms and pulled out four students. The students said nothing, and simply walked out of the rooms behind Death.

After the kids were selected and removed from class, a person from the Morgan County Coroner's Office read obituaries to the classes.

"We're here to pronounce death," they said.

The selected students spent the night in a hotel, and were not allowed to contact anyone, even by text, Malone said.

The next morning, they were put in ripped clothing and bloody makeup to get ready for the show at the speedway.

Brush High School student Michael Gutierrez, 16, is arrested by Brush Police Officer Garrett Hackett in a simulation of what can happen in an accident during the "Every 15 Seconds" program held at 1-76 Speedway Wednesday morning.
(Dan Barker/Fort Morgan Times)

This was all arranged beforehand with parents and the students, Malone said.

The Fort Morgan Police Department, the Brush Police Department, the Morgan County Sheriff's Department and the Colorado State Patrol all took part in the program, as did the Morgan County Ambulance Service, and Fort Morgan, Brush and Hillrose fire departments.

Students from FMHS, Brush High School, Wiggins High School, Weldon Valley High School and Lincoln High School participated and were in the audience.

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